Detachable heel for shoes



Patented 0ct14, 1924.

UNITED STATES 1,511,922 PATENT OFFICE.

ROBERT A. WADE, or annsnr CITY, nnwJnnsEYa DETAGHABLE HEEL FOR SHOES.

Application filed February 6, 1922. Serial No. 534,302.

wearer may readily effect the detachment orthe attachment.

' The invention also includes'an improved structure for detachably connecting the tread to the heel so that the tread may also be removed by the wearer and a new tread substituted.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein,-

Fig. 1 shows a portion of a shoe and a heel embodying the invention,the parts being connected and shown in vertical section. 1 s "Fig. 2 illustrates the. detached heel in top or plan view.

Fig. 3 shows a cross-sectional detail through the attached elements which connect the heel and shoe,-the .sectionbeing taken on a line at right angles to the section shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 illustrates the detached locking device employed to connect the heel with the shoe,the device being shown in perspective.

Referring to the drawings the numeral 12, designates the sole portion of a shoe to theunder side and rear portion of which I secure a sheet-metal plate 13. This plate conforms to the contour of the sole and is permanently seated and secured to the under side thereof.

This sheet metal plate has a central depressed portion' which forms a hollow depending plug 14 which latter inclines forwardly and is also preferably taperedin that its lower closed end is slightly smaller than its upper open end. This plug has a cross-section shape that somewhat resembles the shape of a horseshoe, but this precise shape is not essential as its only function is to avoid rotation of the heelp t that eng g s it; and. therefore any shape in cross-section other than circular will very well serve this purpose.

By reference to Figs. 1 and 3 of the drawings, it will be noted that the hollow plug 14L, is provided at opposite sides near its upper end with inward projections 15,

Whichproduce exterior side grooves 16 on the outer sides of the plug,-the said grooves extending fore and aft and serving a useful purpose as willpresently be described.

The heel comprises a body-part 17 of anypreferred design, but in this instance is broad at the top and narrow at the bottom. airound the top the wall of the body-part has an inturned flange 18 under which the edge of a socket-plate 19 extends so that said socket-plate will be rigidly secured to i the body. This plate 19 has a central depressed socket 20 which inclines forwardly and is shaped to produce a tapered socket that is smaller at its lower closed end than at its upper open end. The cross-sectional shape of this socket'20, as clearly shown in Fig. 2 of the drawing, is of a general horseshoe shape so as to receive the plug 14 that depends from the plate 13.

The interior of the .heel body 17 is provided with a filler material 21 and a recess 22 is formed in this filler directly beneath the socket-plate l9,the recess extending all the way about theupper part of'the socket20 andalso extending to the forward side of the heel in front of the socket as clearly shown in Fig. 1, of the drawing.

At opposite sides and near its upper attached end, the socket 20 has side slots 23,

as shown in Figs. 2 and 3 of the drawings,

for a purpose that will presentlybe explained.

In the recess 22 at the top of the heel I of the socket as clearlyshownin Figs. 2 and 3 of the drawings. 7

The free ends 27 of the locking frame ex tend tel-"wei dly in sai ecess 2% nd p etest the drawing, and when in this position the two side bars 25 will extend through the slots 23 of the socket 20, and if the, plug let is in place in the socket, those side bars 25 will enter the side grooves 16 on the outer side of the plug and by engaging the wall of said grooves lock the plug in the socket, as best illustrated. in Fig, 3 of the drawing.

The side bars may readily be disengaged from. the side grooves 16 of the plug by springing those bars apart, and this may readily be done by simply engaging the two exposed ends 29 and drawing them together.

It is believed to be quite obvious that to connect the heel with the sole, it is only necessary to insert the plug 14 in the socket 20 and press the heel and shoe together until the bars 25 snap into the side grooves of the plug. whereupon. the heel and shoe will be rigidly held' together.

The plug and socket are obviously of sufficient strength and depth to care for the strains that are placed on the heel when the shoe is worn.

Having described my invention, I claim,

1. In a detachable heel for shoes, an attaching plate carried by the shoe, a projection extending from said plate, a heel, a plate carried by the heel and provided with a socket to receive the extension of the shoe carried plate and yield'able means extending through the walls of the socket and engaging the grooves of the shoe carried projection to hold the heel in position and outwardly extending overlapping fingers included in the locking device whereby the-latter may be actuated.

3. In a detachable heel for shoes, an attaching plate carried by the shoe, a projection extending from said plate, a heel, a plate carried by the heeland provided with a socket to receive the extension of the shoe carried plate, the walls of said socket having slots therein to register with the grooves of through the walls of the socket and engagthe shoe carried projection and yieldable means passing through the slotsand engaging the grooves to hold the heel in posie tion. a I

4:. In a detachable heel for shoes, an attaching plate carried by the shoe, a projection extending from saidplate, a heel, a plate carried by the heel and provided. with a socket to receive the extension of the shoe carried plate, the walls of said socket having slots therein to register with the grooves of the shoe carried projection and yieldable means passing through the slots and engaging the grooves to .lioldthe-heel in position, said means including relatively movable side bars, yieldable means connecting one of the ends of said bars and overlap ping fingers extending from the other ends of the bars.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature ROBERT A. WADE. 

